Apparatus for pouring liquids such as molten metal



March 4, 1930. A', W MORRIS ET AL 1,749,083

APPARATUS FOR POURING LIQUIDS SUCH AS MOLTEN METAL NVENTOR. Alberi Wood Morris,

and 5am zel Price afelzerzl Z, .fr

A TTORNE Y.

March 4,' 1930. A w, MQRms ET AL 1,749,083

APPARATUS FOR `POURING LIQUIDS SUCH AS HOLTEN IETAL Filed latch 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fm n Y* I -INVENTOR. Albe r t Wood Mo rrzfs ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE -ALBERT WOOD MORRIS, OF DREXEL HILL, AND SAMUEL PRICE WETHERILL, JR., OF

HAVERFORD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO WETHERILL-MORRIS ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE APPARATUS FOR POURING LIQUIDS SUCH AS MOLTEN METAL Application filed March 18, 1929. Serial No. 347,976.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus or machine for pouring liquids and particularly molten metal. The improved machine may be used to advantage as'the means for intermittently supplying the charging ladle in an automatic casting appartus such as shown in our copending applications Serial No. 341,142, filed February 19, 1929, and Serial No. 336,556, filed January 31, 1929. Another particular use is in the pouring of molten metal to a centrifugal casting machine such for example as is now quite effectively used in making cast-iron pipe. But apart from such particular uses, our present improvement has features useful in the general operations of pouring molten metal or liquids where care or precision is desired in the operations.

According to one important feature ofthe invention we provide a machine by which, according to a predetermined cycle of operations, a ladle or liquid container is tilted to pour, then tilted back in time to dampen or completely avoid the effect of the surging tendency of the liquid to spill over in excess" of the desired pouring rate, and( then again tilted to pour in time to carry on a substantially continuous pouring operation without the surging effect. So far as we know, we are the first to arrange a machine which will carry out this cycle of operations in exact measured sequence beyond the normal control of an operator and render the pouring effect the same in each operation. In prior practice the operation depended on the skill ofthe workmen andthe danger of spilling due to surging at the start of the pouring operation had to be kept. in mind by y the workmen.

` According to another feature of the invention the machine invariab-ly tilts the ladle back a slight degree at the end of the pourparent -from the specific description of the drawings and annexed claims.

In the embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration of its preferred form, we have taken la pouring machine particularly designed to work with the automatic casting operations as illustrated in our said copending cases. But the control means for coordinating all the movements throughout the casting operations are not particularly pertinent to the disclosure of the present invention. For this reason we have simplified the control means herein shown to one which is adapted to this machine alone. It should be understood, however, that we contemplate connecting up the present machine with the timed control means of the other automatic Inachines as a definite part of our specific devel- 'whole mechanism may be controlled by a single push-button; and

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the control arranged to be operated semi-automatically.

Referring. to Figs. 1 and 2, S is the con-.-

tainer with molten metal. This container may be filled by taking it to and from the main supply, as a cupola or open-hearth furnace, or by using another container attached to a crane as supply carrier for ladle S. The container can be turned or tilted about pivot E which supports the edge of the ladlexin the manner shown. The rope R guided overa sheave C is woundabont the drum'H. This drum, byA means ofthe gears G, is rotated from the motor F. By substituting other gears G Ithe pouring ratemay be conveniently varied, assuming the motor speed to be the same.

For an understanding of the other parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the preliminary explanation of the machine operation will help.

When the motor is set in operation, a delinite and sudden acceleration of the ladle S and its contents is unavoidable. This starts a surging tendency in the metal and unless it is corrected the metal will suddenly overflow and spill beyond the desiredpourlng rate. This tendency is corrected by slightly but quickly tilting back the container shortly after the forward tilting has begun.

With this special object in mind, the machine is arranged for the automatic succession of the following pouring actions:

(a) Starting theforward tilting of the container S. y

(b) Back-tilting shortly after starting.

(c) Continuing the forward tilting and pouring.

(d) Back-tilting to stop pouring.

(e) Holding the container with its content almost flush with the spout after the stop-pouring action. y I

After this cycle has been completed the same succession of actions can be repeated again, starting now from the position that the container assumed under the final actions (d) and (e), and it may be repeatedas frequently as desired until the container 1s emptied. Thus, container S may be emptiedat one pouring operation or only after a series of independent pouring operations. After the container S has been entirely discharged it can be dropped back to its initial position and then either be refilled or be replaced by another filled container` of the same kind, the frame support being adapted for this purpose. The dropping back of the container to its initial upright position is an action outside the cycle described, and it is lnot performed automatically, as here shown, but could readily be made so by an automatically operable slip clutch in the motor drive.

The functions of the various parts represented in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 will now easily be understood.

The lower chamber of piston cylinder B 1sA connected to an air pressure supply. When pressure is being admitted the piston of cylinder B will be pushed upwardly. By means of several lever arms T, suitably connected as shown, the push rod K and its crosshead, the upward push of the cylinder piston will raise the sheave C mounted on a crosshead between the two vertical uprights shown, and when the sheave is in its uppermost position a suitable switch D, normally open as indicated in Fig. 2, will be closed and startl the motor F, or, yin other words, the forward-tilting of the container S will begin. p

A short and quick back-tilting is now performed by exhausting a part or all of the air pressure charge of the cylinder B with Y theresult that the sheave will be lowered a certainamount, that the'switch D will open and stop the motor,.and that the container will tilt back. Since the exhaustion period is only of short duration the piston under the action of renewed air pressure supply will soon resume an upward movement and take the sheave back to its luppermost position, with switch D again closed so that the forward tilting movement of the container will continue and pouring will take place. After a certain desired amount ofmetal has been poured the container is tilted back in the same way as explained before. But in this case the forward tilting action will not be resumed again. The container will now be held in its tilted-,back position with the metal almost Hush. This stopping action is performed by automatically shutting otff'the pressure supply to cylinder B simultaneously with the `opening of the exhaust valve or immediately afterwards, with the result that the sheave C will be kept now in a llower position with switch D open.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 (which illustrate'one form of control mechanism in simpler arrangement than-the ones used in our automatic casting apparatus), it will be noted that we have provided two valves, an exhaust valve M and an admission Valve N. As long as the air pressure supply g is disconnected, the valves M and N by means of springs are held open and closed respectively, as shown in Fig. 3. But as soon as pressure is admitted, valve M will close automatically,

thus filling the lower. chamber of both valvesL with compressed air ready for action. The valve stems are operated from cam disks m and n. In order to admit air to the cylinder B by means of the pipe line t, it is only necessary to depress the stem of valve N. Quick exhaustion is obtained by depressing the stem of valve M and leaving va-lve N at the same time in its depressed position. As will best be understood from the illustration, the mouth of the air supply duct g acts in this case as an ejector of air from the cylinder, by discharging through the openings Z in the upper chamber of valve M.

The cam-shaft b is driven from an. electric motor a with terminals h. This motor is coupled to the shaft b by means of two sets of gears g1 and g2. Besides the cam disks m and n an electric contact disk c is mounted on thel shaft.

Fig. 4 indicates in a schematic way how the desired automatic control may be performed. The motor a can be started by de.

pressing a push-button p. This push-button forms part of an electric relay provided with a solenoid s and a spring u. The spring tends to break the contact, and the solenoid when energized tends to make the Contact. The solenoid is connected to a brush e sliding on I the contact disk c. The surface of this disk is sulating material. As soon as the motor has elevations k1 and' k2.

360 degrees the relai' motor a.

1.74aoes been started by depressing the push-button p is pivoted with relation -to the valve stems of the disk c will start rotating, the brushe will valves M and N so that on depressing it N leave the insulated segment d and a relay current will be established through brush f bearing .on some portion of the shaft b, through brush e, and the coil of solenoid 8. Therefore, the push-button will vbe kept in` contact position until after a ,complete turn of current will be broken again, opening there y the circuitvof the valve It will be noted that the disk n carries a cam elevation almost all around its periphery, a depression to its basic periphery exists only at K. The disk mis provided with two cam Assuming that the'shaft and its disks start to rotate in a clockwise direction, with air pressure from g holding valve M closed and lilling the bottom of both valve chambers, the v n actions of the valves andthe operations of.

v motor drive and apply a.fbralre-for"slowlyv ,which is initiated by depressing lthe weight, it will only be necessa the whole mechanism result in therefrom,l will now be briefly summarize (a) Valve N opens, sheave C is being raised to lts uppermost position, switch Dclosesstarting the drum motor F, the container is bein tilted forwardly. l c

- (bg Valve m opens,actuated by cam elevation Isl, valve n remains open, cylinder B isexhausted to a certain' degree, sheave c is lowered, drum motor F is disconnected, the container is tilted back.

(c) Valve m closes, valve An remains opengf;L

air is supplied again to the cylinder-raising the s eave again to its uppermost (posi-v tion, closing switch D and starting the rum motor again, pouring takes place.

(d) Before the shaft b has performed one complete revolution valve m 1s opened once more by means of cam elevation k2, sheave C is lowered, the drum motor F is stopped and the container tilted back, pouring is interrupted now.

(e) Both valves close, sheave C. remains in a lowered positiontwith switch D o en, alll action is stopped, the container is hel in forwardly tilted position with its content slightly below that sition which is f lush with the spout, ready or a second pouring cycle, .the push-button p returns to its initial position, valve-motor a is stopped.

After several such pouring cycles, each pif us button the container will be em tie and should turned ba'ckto its initia upright position. Since the container tends to return to itsinitial position under lits own to provide one of thewell known means, suc as a clutch, that will permit disengagement with,l the tilting back the containengI 1 p.

If it is desirabl toi the pouring control by hand, the arrangement o. F1g.`5y may be used. As here shown', thejhandle X o ens first and then M and then by slightly e evating the handle valve M is. permittedl toclose and N to stayopen until the pouring is finished to the desired amount. If the handle'Xis depressed to open valve M, just previous to its final elevation, it is clear that the same operating cycle may be conveniently carried on -by hand, as has been previously described in connection with the automatic control. l

From the foregoing it will also be clear that lthe desired valves might be controlled magnetically by push-button control, and other varieties of control, leading to the manipulation of the ladle or container S Athrough the mechanism as described, will occur to those skilled in the art.

One particularly useful arrangement of this pouring mechanism in connection with the automatic casting machines we have in mind, is as follows:

We arrange the push-button p indicated in Fig. 4 in position to be closed by a scale beam or part of a scale operated means. Thus, if the ladle S is used to supply molten metal to a charging ladle in our casting machine and such charging ladle is resting on a scale platform, then when the molten metal does not register suflicient weight, the scale beam part z will move to close switch p. The latter rwill be held closed until ladle S has poured enough metal to the charging ladle to cause part z to move to switch open positici. This arrangement is more full described in our copending application erial No. 341,142, liled February 19, 1929, and is here mentioned because the ouring mechanism and its control fully escribed herein is of particular advantage in the assembly of the various casting and accessory mechanisms assembled vas a unit in our copending` case.

vWe wish to emphasize that the structures described heretofore and shown in the illustrations, represent merely a specific embodiment of our invention whose general object and some of the specific objects have been stated in the ycoufrse of this specification. These objects can be carried out in otherforms of apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention embodied in the annexed claims. f

What we claim is:

- 1.A yladle manipulating mechanism for v pouring o rations comprising means to support a la e for pivotal movements, power tilting means operably connected to the ladle,

a' starting device forthe tiltingmeans, and

means operable after th'eftilting means starts to* automatically reversej'its action on the ladle and again `start the tilting operation whereby a surging action of.liquid in the ladle is dampened upon initial pouring actions of the ladle.4

2. In combination a ladle and power means to manipulate theladle for pouring operations, a control device for said power means to start the ladle pouring movement and means tomomentarily interrupt the ladlepouring movement and reverse its direction, said last named means being under` control of the power operating mechanism and beyond the normal control of the operator. 3. A pivotallyI suspended container for receiving and pouring liquid substances, a power means operatively connected to the container for tilting the same forwards and backwards about its pivotal suspension, means for automatically controlling the power means in such a way as to produce a predetermined succession of pouring andstoppouring actions consisting of repeated forward tilting and backward tilting movements, and of a final stoppage'ofsaid container in a forward tilted positionvwith its liquid content nearly flushl with its pouring ed e.

- An apparatus for pouring liquids carei'ully, comprising in combination, a liquid container with a pouring edg e a frame on which the container is mounted for tilting movement, power means to accomplish the tiltingpf the container, and control devices for yth'powcr means arranged to startthe latter to tilt for pouring, to reverse the tilt- 1 ing operation to'lprevent surging and 'to rel5.

sume the tilting operation for pouring.

5. An apparatus for pouring liquids carefully, comprising in combination, a liquid container with a pouring edge, a frame on which the container is`mounted fon'rtilting movement, power means-to accomplish the tiltingof the container, and control devices for the power means arranged'to start the latterto tilt for pouring, to reverse the tilting operation tf prevent surging andto resume the tilting operation for pouring, rand power means to operate lsaid control devices in the desired cycle for each pouring'operation.

6. In an apparatus for the purpose described a pivotally mounted pouring ladle,a tackle mechanism including rope, pulley, and windlass operatively mounted to tilt the ladle back and forth on its pivot,`a`nd means'to manipulate the pulley independently 'the windlass whereby the rope may be slackened to avoid surging in the ladle.

7. In an apparatus for the purpose described a pivotally mounted pouring ladle, .a tackle mechanism including rope, pulley, and windlass operatively mounted to'tilt the ladle back and forth on its pivot,"and means to manipulate the pulley independently oi the windlass-whereby the rope maybeslackened to avoid surging in the ladle','said and manipulating means having an interlocking control means. v

8. I1i combination a pouring ladle, la frame onv which the" ladle lis mounted for tilting movements,a motor and mechanism operable thereby to ,tilt the ladle, said mechanism'hav'- ingy a lost motion device to interrupt ,the/tilting effect on the ladle, and manipulating means'for the lost motion device to intermittently make it effective and inell'ectivefac cordingtothe desired tilting movementsuof theladle.

9. In combination a ladle for molten metal, a frame havin ay pivotal support connected to the ladle'admcent its pouring edge, a rope connected tothe lowerv edge of the ladle to tilt it, a pulley to receive the rope as it'passes to a 'winding mechanism, 'a reciproc'able mounting for the pulley, means to reciprocate the pulley mounting independently of the winding mechanism, to reverse the tilting of the ladle.

10. rIn combination a ladle for molten metal, a frame havinga pivotal support con- -nected tothe ladle adjacent its pouring edge,

a ropefconnected to the vlower edge of'tlie ladle to tilt it, a pulley to receivethe rope 'as ladle yto tilt it, 'a pulley to receive the rope as it passes'to awwmdingl mechanism, la reciprocable mounting forthe pulley, means 'to reciproate'the pulley mounting independently ofthe winding mechanism, to yrevlrfse tllievtiltin'g of theladle, a motor or'th windine mechanism and aswilch't Start and ,St/.6P said motor, said switch lbeing""closed -`and opened thereciprocationof said. pulley mounting, and a power operated controlde- Ylc .fl .t'hvipl'catig llfllShaving Prdetermined sequence of 'movements whereby the pulley vis given a quick switchclosingy opening reciprocltin' andV "th-rif Switch losing Vmoyen'ient and a Adelayed switch f pemn'g mcvemehtt' '12. In combination a frame having a .piv- Otally vIlQuIldladle)holdll ldl QIIIL .ten meer 'removably 'fastened Aih saidrrie t9 b tilted b' its Incrementa vertical's poi-.ts spaced rom the fraiii,fa"crosshead1ii sald suppert, a pulley mounted in the cross'- head, P117 matic' means with llink @Qnetis riad-.ing Swed 'free the vermeenslight distance during the Winding drum opports, a rope operatively connected to the ladle at its lower part and passing over said pulley to the winding drum so that the latters operation tilts the ladle in one direction, said pneumatic means being adapted to lower the pulley and tilt the ladle backwardly a slight distance during the winding drum operation.

"13. In combination a frame having a pivotally mounted ladle holder, a ladle for molten metal removably fastened in said frame to be tilted by its movements, vertical supports spaced from the frame, a crosshead in said support, a pulley mounted in the crosshead, pneumatic means with link connections to reciprocate the crosshead, a motor driven Winding drum spaced from the vertical supports, a rope operatively connected to the ladle at its lower part and passing-over said pulley to the Winding drum so that the latters operation tilts the ladle in one direction, said pneumatic means being adapted to lower the pulley and tilt the ladle backwardly a eration', and a 'switchto lclose and open the motor circuit operable on the lifting and lowering of said crosshea'd, respectively.

In testimony whereof we have atixed -our signatures.l

ALBERT WOOD MORRIS. SAMUEL PRICE WETHERILL, JR. 

